| Title: | Mary Smyth, Castledamph to James A Smyth, Ontario |
|---|---|
| ID | 2996 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Mary/97 |
| Year | 1900 |
| Sender | Smyth, Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Presbyterian) |
| Origin | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, Canada |
| Destination | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Recipient | Smyth, James A. |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth |
| Doc. No. | 605060 |
| Date | 27/10/1900 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1030 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr J.A. Smyth Essex Box 234 Ontario Canada [Postage stamp] Postage and Inland Revenue one penny [Stamped] Newtownstewart PM 10 Oc 27 00 [Back of Envelope] [Stamped PLUMBRIDGE A Oc 27 00 [Stamped] ESSEX N010 00 ONT [Written in centre of envelope] 1900 [Page 1] Castledamph October 27th 1900 Dear Brother I just write these few lines to let you know that we are still alive as I believe it has been a fortnight since they wrote to you before so I thought I would write a few lines. We were in Moses Ballantines [Ballantynes?] last night there was a kind of a party in it of the neighbours a [and?] friends we did not leave it to four o clock this morning. We had a great [Page 2] night with singing and dancing James Ballantyne the yankee danced a good deal and there is not very many about here can dance a single dance as well, nor as light on the floor. He has only a week to stay now or less he is for going on Thursday and very vexed he will be as he is vexed already. John Chs. [Charles] came over for last night. he never went to bed yet when he came home this morning he sat up till it cleared and then started out with the dog and gun he has shot four now and is away out again so he will have a good many before night. I suppose you are doing well at the teaching. How do you like the books that we sent you [Page 3] the Civil Service guide. I was wishing when I was looking over them that I had never quit school. I was thinking that you should be able for the best of them nearly. I believe Master James tried the [Excise?] exam but failed he done [sic] it on the sly but the Campbells found it out someway He was up here one night and we were talking about it and he said that the exams were harder than what you would expect. So I suppose he had the experience of it when he said that. By this time you have heard a good deal of news from Belle. I don’t think she begrudged her visit to Ireland I think she enjoyed herself very well I am sure you were all glad to see them back again. I suppose you will take a trip over next summer well, there [Page 4] is some changes in Castledamph since you were here before. Do you know you would miss Willie Gilky [William Gilkinson?] last night you should think you would see him dancing it was the first spree for him to miss. I don’t think I was in Gilky’s [Gilkinson’s] this two months but I intend going down with this letter It is very dull & lonely, not like it was atall, at least I think so anyway, but there is a good deal of [caliklaliess?] yet or whatever you might call them. You will think it a great change in it besides when you left. There is two in it now and you would not know when they are pleased nor when they are angry [viz?] James & Tilda Willie [William?] was the best of the whole of them put together. James Houston is not very much better. I hear them saying that he will hardly mind, I did not see him this long time but I believe he is far failed that he will be another of your correspondents gone. He was here one evg. [evening] Belle was here and he told them some funny stories [Page 5] he was not very bad that time I always liked to hear him singing and telling stories especially about wee Paddy which is as the Master says, good value. Wednesday is halloweve [halloween?] day does it be remembered over there there is not as much tying of doors and such like as used to be. I remember last year Jamey Gilky [James Gilkinson?] and Willie [William?] was in here and Eliza and me and them thought we would tie Joe Gilkys [Gilkinsons] but when we went the length we could not manage to tie so we fired stocks in and one thing and another [for?] a long while but out come the two Joes and then if you would see the race so Eliza and James passed me and I was afraid of being caught and I had no remedy only to get hold of Willie [William?] so when he was passing me I just got hold of the sleeve of his coat and I held for all I was worth you would think it was death and live [life?] and Willie [William?] would always say to me let me go, you’ll get us two caught but I held fast we were not in a hurry out again. Tomorrow is the Sacrament Sunday I suppose you never have been examined yet I see a daughter of Willie [William?] Dunns [Page 6] is home this last while has been examined this time after being away four or five years I suppose. Our ones are all examined but me I don’t know whether I will go next year or not. I suppose winter is commencing over there too by this time it is [joinyng?] to get a little bit cold here they [the?] potatoes are not all dug yet I have got away from them the [this?] year every other year I would be gathering them and last year I had to dig some. We are just churning now, I think I had better give it a brash for fear the [they?] are getting tired. I wish it was night or bedtime rather as I have a dizzy head and I don’t know what all with sitting up I suppose. I got yesterday and today and I don’t know whether I will get Halloween [Halloween?] day or not yet. I have a good deal of holidays this year but time is not very precious we are not very busy now. Nobles ones has got a new fiddle and I was playing on her last night and she has a beautiful sound and very loud. She was 14s [shillings?] so she was very cheap. John James is as good a player as Daniel and some say better. God Bless for the present M. [Mary] Smyth [This note is written diagonally and upside down in top left corner] Excuse grammar and [inditing?] as I am not very good at either they [the?] 2 Transcribed by Alan Houston |
